English animal idioms – you may feel that some of the vocabulary isn’t relevant to the English you’ll use in everyday life.
Idioms are a fun way to practice and expand your English vocabulary…
Animal Idioms in English
Here is the list of idioms about animals with their meanings in English:
1. Ant in one’s pants
- People who have ants in their pants are very restless or excited about something.
2. Eager beaver
- The term eager beaver refers to a person who is hardworking and enthusiastic, sometimes considered overzealous.
3. Bee in one’s bonnet
- Someone who has a bee in their bonnet has an idea which constantly occupies their thoughts.
4. Birds of a feather flock together
- If two people are birds of a feather, they are very similar in many ways, so they naturally spend time together.
5. A dark horse
- Someone who is more clever or skillful than anyone expects
6. A lone wolf
- Someone who is not very social with other people
7. A guinea pig
- Someone who is part of an experiment or trial
8. The travel bug
- A very strong desire to travel
9. To have butterflies in your stomach
- To be nervous
10. An early bird
- A person who gets up early in the morning, or who starts work earlier than others.
11. A home bird
- Somebody who prefers to spend his social and free time at home.
12. A busy bee
- A busy, active person who moves quickly from task to task.
13. A lone bird/ wolf
- Someone who prefers his won company or who has little social contact with others.
14. An odd bird/ fish
- An eccentric person whose behavior or way of life is regarded as strange.
15. A rare bird
- Somebody or something of a kind that one seldom sees.
16. A dog in the manger
- A person who selfishly prevent others from using, enjoying or profiting from something even though he/ she cannot use or enjoy it himself.
17. A cold fish
- Somebody who is not often moved by emotions, who is regarded as being hard and unfeeling.
18. A dark horse
- Someone whose past is a mystery; a person who keeps their interests and ideas secret, especially someone who has a surprising ability or skill.
19. A lame duck
- A person or enterprise (often a business) that is not a success and that has to be helped.
20. A sitting duck
- A person or object in a vulnerable position that is easy to attack or injure.
Animal Idioms | Image
